ROME AND ENGLAND by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 2, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 26.

ROME AND ENGLAND.

By Editor

The Catholic Mirror of June 20 prints a letter from Hon. W. E. Gladstone to a high church prelate on the subject of the “Validity of English Orders and the Reunion of Christendom.” It is well known that for some time the Roman Curia, or papal cabinet, have had under investigation the subject of the validity of English orders, that is, whether the ordination of the English clergy, or priests, is valid. Hitherto when one has joined the ranks of Rome he has been reordained. Rome is looking for a solution of the difficulty, and an early finding is promised. It is expected by many that Rome will concede them to be valid, and will perhaps permit those Church of England “priests” now married to retain their wives and minister in the Catholic Church by special indulgence, but will prohibit marriage on the part of all others seeking orders in the Roman communion.

Of the effort of Pope Leo XIII. in this direction, and in that of Christian reunion, Mr. Gladstone speaks in unqualified praise, and with considerable hope. He refers to the pope as “one laden with the cares and responsibilities of the highest position in the Christian church.” Again he says: “It is the pope who, as the first bishop of Christendom, has the noblest sphere of action.” Of the pope’s work Mr. Gladstone thus speaks:—

“What courage must it require in a pope, what an elevation above all the levels of stormy partisanship, what genuineness of love for the whole Christian flock, whether separated or annexed, to enable him to approach the huge mass of hostile and still burning recollections in the spirit and for the purposes of peace. And yet that is what Pope Leo XIII. has done, first in entertaining the question of this inquiry, and secondly in determining and providing, by the infusion both of capacity and of impartiality into the investigation tribunal, that no instrument should be overlooked, no guarantee omitted, for the probable attainment of the truth. He who bears in mind the cup of cold water administered to ‘one of these little ones’ will surely record this effort stamped in its very inception as alike arduous and blessed.”

And whatever the conclusion of the Roman see may be, Mr. Gladstone considers the pope’s “attitude in the largest sense paternal; and while it may probably stand among the latest recollections of my lifetime, it will ever be cherished with cordial sentiments of reverence, of gratitude, and of high appreciation.”

There is much more for which we have not space. Of course the pope has the right to write as many letters and to investigate as many theological questions as he pleases, and Mr. Gladstone, or any other man, has a right to adopt, admire, reverence, or reject whatever the pope does. We quote these to show the change of sentiment that is taking place in the attitude of professed Protestants toward Rome, and the influence that such men as Mr. Gladstone have upon the unthinking masses. The indications in these things are that England is returning to Rome at a constantly accelerating speed. The Catholic Mirror, from which Mr. Gladstone’s remarks are taken, sees in all this a return to the Roman fold. After speaking of the divisions of Christendom resulting from “the revolt of Luther,” the contest between faith and unfaith, the marked falling off of Protestant

faith, the erroneous increase of agnostic and infidel teaching, and the necessity for union, the Mirror says:—

“Hence the anxious eyes of men like Lord Halifax, Mr. Gladstone, and others [are] turning constantly and almost involuntarily in the direction of Rome.

“Within the last year or two the movement for reunion has been astonishing. Honest, dispassionate and clear-sighted observers—professing no faith of any kind—have confessed candidly their conviction that in the future people must declare between the two camps—the Catholic Church and utter infidelity. Protestantism, without organization, or system, or definite principles, can offer no bulwark to the foe. Certainly the Catholic Church has not been indifferent to this cry for a burial of differences and a general rally once more under the banner of Christ.

“On the contrary, the supreme pontiff has urged its necessity with vehemence and has labored with a zeal that reached the point of intensity, in the hope of effecting it. No thought has been so constantly in his mind, no prayer for any other object has been so incessantly on his lips. That he has not prayed in vain is proved in many ways, and in a very impressive way by this letter from Mr. Gladstone.

“A reunion of England with Rome would be a tremendous step toward a general reunion of Christianity. No nation could fail to be impressed. And that reunion is slowly but distinctly approaching, as every discerning mind must perceive. On every hand there are evidences of a revival of Catholicism, even to pilgrimages and religious processions, such as that of Our Lady at Clapham in London a few weeks ago, in the streets. The conversions are very numerous; the so-called High Church party, which carries almost all power, pauses at the very brink. The Catholic feeling is universally in the air, and the queen herself is known to be a Catholic at heart, and rumor has lately said, even one to some extent in practice.”